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A nagging injury that has dogged Vladimir Guerrero for over a decade cost him a game Thursday, but isn’t expected to keep him out of the lineup much longer.

Guerrero irritated the index finger on his left hand during an at-bat in the fifth inning Wednesday night against the Kansas City Royals when he grounded out to second base. He stayed in the game, though, grounding out in the seventh inning. He was removed for the ninth inning.

He was not in the starting lineup Wednesday, but figures to be ready to play today. Gary Matthews Jr. was in right and Juan Rivera was the designated hitter, just his second start this season.

Guerrero first injured the finger in 1996 when he was hit by a pitch at the Class-A level. He said that irritation typically starts every season at around 100 at-bats, but came a little early this year. Guerrero had 65 at-bats heading into Wednesday’s game.

Once it starts to swell up it doesn’t go down (all season), Guerrero said through broadcaster Jose Mota, who was serving as interpreter. It’s something I’ve lived with my whole career.

The offense has been in a much better flow than in previous seasons, but it still didn’t make it easier for Guerrero to miss a start.

You don’t want these things to happen and I don’t think about what our offensive situation is, Guerrero said. I want to play. But when these things happen, the best thing to do is to bring in (somebody else). Hopefully it will be just one day.

With no chance at getting anything resembling decent playing time, the Angels optioned outfielder Reggie Willits to Triple-A Salt Lake today. Because it wouldn’t hurt to have a fresh arm in the bullpen, the Angels then recalled right-hander Alex Serrano.

Serrano, 27, was 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA (6.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 6 SO, 1 BK) in five games with Salt Lake. His first appearance with the Angel will be his major league debut. In 2007, Serrano finished 3-5 with four saves and a 5.04 ERA (69.2 IP 39 ER) in 47 games with Salt Lake.

A native of Barcelona, Venezuela, Serrano signed with the Angels as a free agent, Dec. 20 2006. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by Colorado, March 16, 1998 and remained with the Rockies organization until he was first signed by the Angels, July 9, 2005. Serrano will wear uniform No. 68 for the Angels.

Willits, 26, was 1-for-1 with a double and two RBI in five games for the Angels this season. He owns a lifetime .292 (139/476) average with 38 RBI in 169 games.

It comes as no surprise that Vladimir Guerrero is the Angels batter who gets the best of Royals pitcher Gil Meche, who is on the mound tonight in the opener of a three-game series at Angel Stadium. Guerrero is 9-for-27 (.333) in his career against Meche with three home runs and six RBIs. He has only struck out twice against the right-hander.

So what Royals batter gets the best of Angels starter Jered Weaver, who is on the mound tonight? That would be none other than former Angel Jose Guillen (5-for-13, .385). Mark Teahen is 4-for-12 (.333) in his career against Weaver. No current member of the Royals roster has a home run against Weaver.

Seems like it would make sense to put Juan Rivera right back into the lineup tonight against the Texas Rangers. Rivera played Sunday and got his first hit and RBI of the season. Against tonight’s Rangers starter, Jason Jennings, Rivera is 4-for-8 lifetime with a double. He does have three strikeouts, though. Manager Mike Scioscia has admitted it hasn’t been easy to get at-bats for guys like Rivera and Reggie Willits.

“It’s been tough,” Scioscia said. “Right now we’re trying to get our guys into the flow of the season that will normally be out there every day. There will come a time when Reggie and Juan are going to have to play to contribute and they will have to play to be able to contribute. I will look at that closely here in the next week but right now … we want our guys who are going to be out there every day to keep moving toward the flow of the season. That’s what we’re looking at.”

The Angels Triple-A affiliate at Salt Lake has been tearing up the Pacific Coast League during the first week of play. The Bees are still undefeated, which certainly proves one thing. If you never trade your prospects, you’re sure to have one heck of a minor-league team somewhere in your system. Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean all the club’s minor-league affiliates are dominating. The Double-A team at Arkansas is 0-5 to start. Here is the Angels’ minor-league report regarding last night’s game for Salt Lake:

SALT LAKE BEES (Class AAA) – Pacific Coast League – Record 7-0

Continuing their best start to a season in franchise history, the Salt Lake Bees improved to 7-0 (all road games) with a 10-1 win over the Tucson Sidewinders (Arizona affiliate). RHP Shane Loux (pronounced Lukes) improved to 2-0 after throwing seven scoreless innings. Loux gave up five hits and one walk while striking out three. DH Matt Brown, who hit for the cycle Wednesday, continued his hot hitting, collecting a single, two doubles and three RBI. 3B Freddy Sandoval led Salt Lakes 14-hit attack with four hits (including two doubles) and SS Brandon Wood added two hits, including a two-run home run.

No need to cruise the neighborhood to find items those around you are about to discard. Bring a fistful of cash to Angel Stadium tomorrow (Saturday, April 12) and walk away with things from the ball club. The Angels are having a first ever memorabilia yard sale. Among the items for purchase:

Stadium banners, game used jerseys and helmets, Angels t-shirts, baseballs, books, programs and more! All sales are final and purchases must be CASH ONLY. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Angels Baseball Foundation.

The “yard sale” begins at 10 a.m., or at 9 a.m. for season ticket holders. It will take place under the giant hats at the home plate entrance gates.

Mike Napoli just clobbered a grand slam over the left-field fence, his third HR of the season, to give the Angels a 4-0 lead over the Cleveland Indians in the second inning. After hitting just 10 home runs last season, Napoli looks to have found the form he displayed in his rookie season of 2006 when he pounded 16 home runs even though he was in the minor leagues for the forst month. It was the first slam of Napoli’s career and his 4 RBI already are a career high for one game.

Napoli’s grand slam follows one by Torii Hunter on Monday when he beat the Indians in the ninth inning. It is the first time the Angels have collected two grand slams in the same series since David Eckstein had grand slams on consecutive days, April 27 and 28, 2002 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

John Lackey, out since spring training with a strained right triceps, technically has already started throwing from a mound. During a flat-ground throwing session in the bullpen Tuesday, Lackey backed up and tried things from a mound for the first time in about a month.

“He was cheating,” manager Mike Scioscia said before today’s afternoon game against the Indians. “No, he didn’t cheat, he was allowed to. The catcher was up a little bit so he was using the slope but wasn’t throwing all the way. Tomorrow he’s going to throw a full bullpen, just fastballs though.”

When a pitcher goes all out in a bullpen session, Scioscia likes to call it “full gorilla.” Lackey’s bullpen Thursday will be a little less than that. Scioscia called it “orangutan.”

Angels manager Mike Scioscia will conduct a free youth baseball clinic on Saturday, April 19 in conjunction with the Amateur Baseball Development Group. Age limits were not specified for the clinic that takes place between 10:30 a.m. and noon. It will be held at Conejo Creek Ballpark, 1300 E Janss Road in Thousand Oaks. Select Angels players, coaches and broadcasters were also expected to attend, although none were specified. Participants are encouraged to bring any Angels items for an autograph session. For more information, go to www.abdg.org.